NEUJAHRSKONZERT DER KOMPONISTINNEN (NEW YEAR’S CONCERT OF FEMALE COMPOSERS)

Vienna – also the city of female composers!

They remained overlooked for many years, but then it happened quickly: the (re)discovery of Johann Strauss’ female contemporaries! Their works, often hidden in Viennese archives, German libraries or Upper Austrian castles, are usually only available in piano versions.

One of the main characters of the concert is Constanze Geiger. Johann Strauss’ father dedicated the “Flora Quadrille” to her, and his son composed the “Cricket Banner Waltz” in her honour – the child prodigy who later became a princess. Her eventful life – including the birth of her son two years before her marriage to Prince Leopold von Coburg – is just one of many stories brought to light in the concert. Josefine Weinlich-Amann, founder of Europe’s first women’s orchestra and an internationally acclaimed conductor, and Leopoldine Blahetka, a pianist and composer who was supported by Beethoven, also take centre stage. The programme includes works by the waltz composer Gisela Frankl and a ragtime piece, alongside music by composers associated with Johann Strauss, created for significant events such as the arrival of the future Empress Elisabeth in Nussdorf, festive anniversaries of the imperial family and performances at the Vienna World Exhibition. They travelled halfway around the world with their music.

Inspired by these extraordinary women, our programme also features works by contemporary female composers – a ragtime by Violeta Dinescu, dance music by Johanna Doderer and Viola Falb, a tango by Melissa Coleman and a world premiere by Ursula Erhart. Their arrangements make this concert possible, as their meticulous research uncovered only piano sheet music.